Could a New Kind of Real Estate Bubble Solve Beijing’s Pollution Problem?

As the air quality in China’s capital once again hit “crazy bad” levels in recent weeks, a new kind of real estate bubble might just be the solution to Beijing’s woes. But this bubble is made of plastic, rather than over-inflated prices.

London design company Orproject has proposed encasing parts of the city in pollution-free clear plastic bubbles, and while the idea may seem far-fetched, Beijing’s leaders might just be in the mood for desperate measures as the air quality index soared above 400 again this month. (An air quality index above 150 is classified as unhealthy).

Orproject proposes to create outdoor green spaces covered by giant plastic domes in the Chinese capital, which would allow people to spend time outdoors without risking their health.

Bubbles would “allow people to be outdoors regardless of the weather in spaces that don’t really take anything away from the environment,” said Orproject co-founder Rajat Sodhi.

According to contractors and engineers that Orproject has spoken to, the project is financially feasible, with an estimated cost of $640 (RMB 3925) per square meter.

If only the costs of fixing China’s other real estate bubble were so affordable.